As of 2017, there were an estimated 44.4 million immigrants living in the United States. This includes documented and undocumented immigrants, people covered under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
As a Moroccan-Cameroonian DACA recipient, I know firsthand the barriers immigrants face in accessing health care.
Federal law blocks undocumented immigrants from accessing Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) entirely, and bans them from purchasing affordable health insurance on the ACA Marketplace, even with their own funds. Legal, permanent residents can buy health insurance on the ACA Marketplace, but they have to wait up to 5 years before they can access Medicaid.
Increased fears of deportation, harassment, and discrimination mean immigrants may be reluctant to get the health care they need. These barriers often translate to poorer health outcomes for immigrants. They are less likely to receive preventive care, such as Pap tests, STD screenings, and birth control, and often lack necessary maternal care.
Planned Parenthood is committed to helping immigrants get the care they need — no matter what. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. Everyone deserves access to quality health care. Learn more about your rights.
Be an ally — here are some organizations doing the groundwork to fight for immigrant rights:
- UndocuBlack Network: a multigenerational network that advocates for and supports undocumented Black people.
- Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI): an organization that helps Black immigrant communities advocate for racial and social justice.
- The National Immigration Law Center (NILC): an advocacy group for immigrants and their family members.
- The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC): a grassroots organization that works to organize Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, economic, and racial justice.
- United We Dream: the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation.
- Informed Immigrant: site with resources for individuals, educators, and providers to support undocumented families.
Lauryn is the State Policy Media Intern at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. As a political science major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, she uses her proximity to Washington, D.C. to stay engaged in politics and activism year-round. Lauryn is passionate about using communications to advocate for intersectionality in progressive policies.